Most and Least Affordable Cities by City Size

Explore how affordability varies by city size around the world. This ranking compares the most and least affordable cities within small, mid-sized, and large population categories, helping you understand how urban scale impacts cost of living. Use the interactive table and map to filter cities by size group and compare Cost of Living Index values. Whether you're looking for a budget-friendly small city or evaluating affordability in major global hubs, this page provides a clear, data-driven comparison.

Lowest

Highest

Region Worldwide Asia Central Asia Eastern Asia Southern Asia South-Eastern Asia Western Asia

Rank	City	Population	Price per month for a nomad	Living Index
241	Otsu, Japan	341,314	$1,310	63
242	Jinju, South Korea	340,548	$1,480	71
243	Wonju, South Korea	340,196	$1,545	74
244	Yangsan, South Korea	335,474	$1,549	74
245	Wenling, China	329,800	$720	34
246	Asahikawa, Japan	329,306	$1,227	58
247	Koriyama, Japan	327,692	$1,246	58
248	Maebashi, Japan	324,644	$2,700	130
249	Naha, Japan	317,625	$1,356	65
250	Akita, Japan	307,672	$1,214	59
251	Iksan, South Korea	307,000	$1,408	67
252	Kurume, Japan	303,316	$967	47
253	Yangshuo, China	300,000	$709	34
254	Morioka, Japan	289,731	$1,254	58
255	Yeosu, South Korea	288,988	$1,441	69
256	Ibaraki, Japan	287,730	$1,141	54
257	Fukushima, Japan	282,693	$1,185	57
258	Chuncheon, South Korea	280,061	$1,298	62
259	Tsu, Japan	279,241	$1,257	61
260	Aomori, Japan	275,192	$1,233	58
261	Mito, Japan	271,047	$1,210	58
262	Chiayi, Taiwan	269,874	$1,034	50
263	Ichihara, Japan	269,524	$1,261	59
264	Fukui, Japan	267,428	$1,035	49
265	Hiratsuka, Japan	258,422	$1,283	61
266	Gyeongju, South Korea	258,156	$1,232	59
267	Geoje, South Korea	254,073	$1,746	83
268	Tokushima, Japan	252,391	$1,273	61
269	Bortala, China	246,706	$718	35
270	Mokpo, South Korea	237,739	$1,439	69

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update: November 10, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

Affordability is based on the Cost of Living Index, which compares average expenses such as housing, food, transportation, and services. Cities are grouped by population size to allow fair comparisons within similar urban categories.

Larger cities often have higher housing demand, stronger job markets, and greater infrastructure costs, which can increase living expenses. Smaller cities may offer lower housing and daily costs but sometimes fewer economic opportunities.

Not always. While small cities are often more affordable, factors like salary levels, job availability, quality of life, and services should also be considered. This ranking helps you compare affordability within each city size category.